Original Hairbelt

ABSTRACT

The invention, “The Original Hairbelt”, is a hair corralling device worn around the head and/or hair and attached with a band comprised of various sturdy materials and an adjustable side or center release buckle. The hair corralling device is used to hold hair away from the face and eyes or to add style, color or embellishments. The hair corralling device adjusts to the head without causing headache or stress to the hair or scalp. The hair corralling device accommodates a variety of head sizes by employing the use of an adjustable side or center release buckle and/or elastic properties. The hair corralling device adjusts by pulling the free end of material threaded through the male end of the adjustable side or center release buckle. The excess material is secured to the opposite side of the adjusted hair corralling device using a plastic or metal garment slide hook.

REFERENCES CITED U.S. Patent Documents

D. 316,774 May 1991 Faulk D2/514 D. 338,551 August 1993 Teague et al. D2/514 D. 339,677 September 1993 Kang D2/512 D. 365,918 January 1996 Izegbu et al. D2/894 5,622,194 April 1997 Ledda-Vengerder 132/273 D. 402,091 December 1998 Bratcher D2/894 D. 413,710 September 1999 De Rugeriis D2/894 6,076,532 June 2000 Thomas et al. 132/273 6,182,672 February 2001 Abasta-Douglas et al. 132/275 6,205,590 March 2001 Gorman 2/181 6,269,488 August 2001 Jurgensen et al. 2/171 6,560,783 May 2003 Cannings 2/171 7,174,901 February 2007 Haar et al. 132/273 D554,800 November 2007 Moudgill D28/40 D636,153 April 2011 Schrab D2/881 D668,843 October 2012 Lalonde et al. D2/881

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention, “The Original Hairbelt”, is a hair corralling device to be worn on the head and in the hair to aid in styling and management of the hair. The invention has two interlocking ends comprised of an adjustable side or center release buckle. It is known that there are already other hair corralling devices, such as headbands, that are used to keep the wearer's hair in a certain position, create a particular style, or simply adorn the hair. In any case, it is desired that the headband remain in a set position on the head or in the hair, once positioned. Typically, traditional headbands do not effectively fulfill this desire; even those that claim they do. “The Original Hairbelt” fulfills this desire and more.

“The Original Hairbelt”, does not need to be first, pulled over the hair, head and face, and then back up to position it; it can be freely attached and adjusted to a custom size to hold the hair away from the face and eyes without damaging the hair, pulling the skin and hair or causing pain. This invention came about purely by chance and necessity. In the fall of 2012, I dropped my children off at school, and then decided to stop at the store for some incidental items. I looked into the rear view mirror and realized I was having a really bad hair day . . . . I have kinky hair and it was in a very messy afro. I searched the car for something to pull it back with and found only a belt I had crafted out of webbing for a different purpose. It had an adjustable side release buckle on it, but it was too big for my head even after I adjusted it as far as it could go, so I tied a knot in the webbing. This made it the perfect length. I was able to place the improvised “Hairbelt” on my head and adjust it to the perfect snugness and position for me. I wore it all day because, unlike any other headband I had ever used for this style, it did not give me a headache or pull my hair and scalp. I basically forgot I was wearing it! Additionally, it was so sturdy that it did not curl, bend, fold, buckle, or wrinkle like other headbands do. It performed more like a belt than a band; hence the name, “The Original Hairbelt”. I continued wearing it every day and figured if it was great for me, it would be great for others. It is now March 2015 and I have scoured the U.S. patent office, retail establishments and the internet for a like product. I have found other adjustable headbands, but none that do the job in the same fashion or as effectively as my product, “The Original Hairbelt”.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of this invention to aid in the styling and management of the hair by comfortably and securely holding it away from the eyes and face.

Another object of this invention is to provide ease of affixing it with an adjustable side or center release buckle for styling and managing of the hair, free from damage or pain and without having to pull the hair corralling device over the hair, head and face, then back up to position it.

It is a further object of this invention for the hair corralling device to conform to a wide spectrum of head sizes and hair densities.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent within the following description of the invention. The invention provides a head and hair corralling device aiding in styling and managing of the hair that includes:

-   -   1. A distinct hair corralling device worn around the forehead,         head or hair     -   2. The means to interact with the head or hair by way of cotton         webbing, nylon webbing, polypropylene webbing, tubular webbing,         polyester webbing, poly-elastic webbing, elastic webbing,         seatbelt webbing or other suitable materials (or a combination         thereof) and fastened by an adjustable side or center release         buckle     -   3. The means to accommodate a variety head sizes and hair         densities         It is to be noted that this specification of the invention         contains nothing new in relation to the previous iterations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To better understand the operation and use of the invention, it will be described by the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the invention; “The Original Hairbelt”.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the invention; “The Original Hairbelt”—Ponytail.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the invention worn from the point of view (POV) showing the front and back of the head adorning “The Original Hairbelt” near the forehead 3 a and extending around the nape of the neck 3 b and 3 c.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the invention worn from the POV showing the front and back of the head adorning “The Original Hairbelt” adjusted back away from the forehead 4 a and extending around the back of the head and hair, holding the hair in and “up-do” 4band 4 c.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of the invention worn from the POV showing the back of the head and the ponytail adorning “The Original Hairbelt”-Ponytail worn completely off of the head and holding the hair, only, in a ponytail style 5 a and 5 b.

FIG. 6 is a drawing of an adjustable side release buckle 6 a, an adjustable center release buckle 6 b and a garment slide hook 6 c.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown an example of the hair corralling device. The hair corralling device includes sturdy material that resists curling, bending, folding, buckling, and wrinkling during use. This material may or may not taper from a certain width to a smaller width at each end, regardless of the width of the hair corralling device at its widest point. The material is made up of one or more of cotton webbing, nylon webbing, polypropylene webbing, tubular webbing, polyester webbing, poly-elastic webbing, elastic webbing, seatbelt webbing, or other suitable materials 1 d. The hair corralling device also includes an adjustable side or center release buckle 1 c and FIG. 6a . The hair corralling device's adjustable capability is shown in the use of the material extending from the male end of the adjustable side or center release buckle 1 f. The use of the hair corralling device will be as follows:

The wearer will grasp both sides of the open side/center release buckle 1 a and 1 b at either end of “The Original Hairbelt”. The wearer will then position “The Original Hairbelt” on their head and/or hair, and snap the side/center release buckle closed 1 c. At this point, the wearer will adjust “The Original Hairbelt” to the optimum custom fit for them by pulling the free end of the adjustable length of “The Original Hairbelt”. Once adjusted, the free end of the adjustable length of material will fold over across the closed side/center release buckle and affix to the opposite side of the “The Original Hairbelt” via the garment slide hook 6 e at the end of it. This will “hide” the side/center release buckle from plain view and foster a clean finished look to the hair corralling device as shown in FIGS. 3c and 4c . The smaller adjustable ponytail Hairbelt FIG. 2 will be used in the same manner, understanding that the free end of it may wrap around the ponytail more than once before it is affixed to itself via the garment slide hook on the free end of it, resulting in a clean finished look 5 a. It can be seen that a hair corralling device for the human head has been presented that can fit a variety of head sizes and aid in holding and styling of the hair. This invention is suitable for all ages and all types of hair. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair corralling device for a human head comprising of material that may or may not taper from a certain width to a smaller width and held in place on the head or in the hair using an adjustable side or center release buckle; conforming to the head or hair by adjustment and/or elastic properties.
 2. A hair corralling device for a human head according to claim 1, wherein said material is cotton webbing, nylon webbing, polypropylene webbing, tubular webbing, polyester webbing, poly-elastic webbing, elastic webbing, or seatbelt webbing (or a combination thereof). This material is washable and was chosen for its sturdiness and resistance to curling, bending, folding, buckling or wrinkling during use; however other types of materials may be used.
 3. A hair corralling device for a human head according to claim 1, wherein said hair corralling device is held in place on the head or in the hair using an adjustable side or center release buckle, allowing the hair corralling device to open and close freely so that it may be placed, rather than pulled to the optimal position on the head or hair; unlike traditional headbands which must be pulled over the hair, head and face, then back up to position them.
 4. A hair corralling device for a human head according to claim 1, wherein said hair corralling device remains in the optimal position on the head, once positioned.
 5. A hair corralling device for a human head according to claim 1, wherein said hair corralling device will not cause excessive pulling of the skin on the scalp and forehead.
 6. A hair corralling device for a human head according to claim 1, wherein said hair corralling device will not cause pain.
 7. A hair corralling device for a human head according to claim 1, wherein said hair corralling device may or may not taper from a certain width to a smaller width at each end, regardless of the width of the hair corralling device at its widest point.
 8. A hair corralling device for a human head according to claim 1, wherein the hair corralling device adjusts by pulling the free end of materiel threaded through the male end of the adjustable center or side release buckle. The excess material is secured to the opposite side of the adjusted hair corralling device using a plastic or metal garment slide hook.
 9. A hair corralling device for a human head according to claim 1, wherein said hair corralling device can be decorated in a lively fashion with jewels and accoutrements affixed by means of sewing, snaps, hooks, pins or self adhesive properties. 